The XFL is a minor league for professional American football. It consists of eight teams across the U.S. Not precisely the NFL, the XFL is a fast-paced football league with innovative rules. It first debuted in the industry in 2021. It ran for a single season as a joint venture between NBC and the World Wrestling Federation, spearheaded by NBC executives Dick Ebersol and Vince McMahon.
Following the closure of the XFL’s first season in February 2020, it started a second go-round. But this time, it was worse as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world, including the XFL, barely a month after the season began. The XFL is set to start a third iteration in February 2023. And below are some of the best NFL players that will likely sign up for the XFL.
Top 5 NFL Players in the XFL
The kickoff of the XFL 2023 has officially begun with the D.C. Defenders against the Seattle Sea Dragons. Bettors can start placing wagers on their favourite NFL players or teams to get more excitement from the event. Remember to have in-depth information about the best online casino accepting Interac, Visa, PayPal, or other payment methods, which can help smooth the XFL betting experience. With the return of the XFL comes the return of some familiar NFL faces on the field and the sidelines. Some of the top NFL players suiting up in the 2023 XFL include:
- Martavis Bryant
American gridiron football wide receiver for the Vegas Vipers, Martavis Bryant, is one of the top NFL players in the 2023 XFL. Bryant’s success spree started in his early years as a college player. As a standout wide receiver coming out of Clemson, Bryant’s professional career started with the Pittsburgh Steelers when he was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft.
For the entire 2016 season, Bryant was served a multi-game suspension. Without him, the Steelers made it to the AFC title game before falling out to the champion Patriots. But Bryant will appear in the 2023 XFL, playing with the Vegas Vipers, as he was selected as the 5th overall Skill Players portion of the XFL Draft.
- Vic Beasley
Joining Bryant on the gridiron is Vic Beasley, a standout player with one of the strongest resumes in the league. Former No. 8 overall pick in the 1025 NFL Draft out of Clemson by the Falcon, Beasley, a linebacker, was a First-Team All-Pro selection and Pro Bowler in his second season. In this campaign, Beasley recorded an NFL-best 15.5 sacks, which helped Atlanta to a Super Bowl berth.
As such, Beasley became the only Falcon in the last decade to record double-digit sacks in a single season. But his productivity dwindled in the next few seasons, with Beasley spending the 2020 NFL season with the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans but having been out of the league for the past two years. But in this 2023 XFL season, Beasley was the first selection of the Defensive Front portion of the XFL Draft, as he will be suiting up for the Vegas Vipers.
- Josh Gordon
Josh Gordon is easily the most high-profile name to come to mind when you think about NFL players to be drafted in the XFL. Gordon, in 2013, was a First-Team All-Pro with the Cleveland Browns. Gordon’s career spans ten years, achieving 21 touchdowns, 4373 yards from scrimmage, and 252 catches.
Gordon’s last NFL game was on September 25th against the Raiders, where he played six snaps. But he will return stronger for the 2023 XFL, as he was drafted in the 6th round of the XFL Supplemental Draft while playing for the Seattle Sea Dragons.
- Paxton Lynch
Paxton Lynch is one of two XFL quarterbacks to start the game in the NFL; the other is Ben DiNucci. Lynch is a successful NFL player who played college football at the University of Memphis and was later drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Lynch has previously played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks, completing 79 of 129 passes for 792 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions. Lynch was drafted into the USFL in 2022, completing 54 of 83 passes for 550 yards with up to five touchdowns. In the 2023 XFL, Lynch will suit up for the Orlando Guardian.
- A.J. McCarron
McCarron is another renowned name in the NFL market and was a three-time national champion. Also, he has two All-SEC selections to his name and a one-time All-American award from the University of Alabama. McCarron spent his NFL career days as a backup quarterback.
He appeared in six NFL seasons with the Texans, Raiders, and Bengals. Drafted in the 2014 NFL, McCarron was the 164th overall pick, appeared in 17 games, starting four of them, and completed 109 of 174 passes for 1173 yards and six touchdowns against three interceptions. For the 2023 XFL, McCarron will suit up for the St. Louis Battlehawks.
Conclusion
The XFL is a thrilling football season for everyone. As you enjoy the game and watch some of your favourite players and teams compete, you can also take the time to place bets to make some extra cash. Ideally, find the best $1 minimum deposit casino in Canada if you’d like to test the waters. After that, learn the different betting strategies for XFL betting to be more successful.
